Essential China: Beijing, Xian, Guilin & Shanghai

After checking in, you have free time to explore this amazing city that is feverishly modernizing, transforming right before your eyes.

Stroll through Tiananmen Square China's historic heart of celebration and also turbulence for almost a century. Onward to the resplendent Forbidden City/Palace Museum (UNESCO site), home for Chinese Emperors since 1420. Walk through the world's largest royal compound that was off-limits to commoners and learn about important treasures of the Imperial collection on display in the vast inner courts. Have a Chinese lunch at local restaurant.

This afternoon, continue to visit the Summer Palace, which is the best-keptexisting royal garden in Beijing, a complex of pavilions, temples, and galleries set among beautifully landscaped grounds, situated on Kunming Lake (subject the weather permitting).

Evening is free with dinner on own.

Today, climb the truly awesome Great Wall of China (UNESCO World Heritage site). Visit the Badaling section. All portions ever made would equal a solid defense wall going around the equator one and one-half times. At the less visited Badaling section, one of the most impressive portions of the barrier, you have time to enjoy the area, photograph majestic views and maybe bargain with the local vendors.

Visit Beijing Jade Carving Factory followed by a Chinese lunch at local restaurant, drive to the Ming Tombs, and visit the most famous emperors mausoleum of Ming Dynasty with 500 years history-Chang Ling and Sacred Way, the main way of which the Ming Dynasty emperor has to pass through to worship their forefathers. Late afternoon, transfer back to hotel.

Peking Duck Dinner at local restaurant.

Explore the vast Temple of Heaven complex (UNESCO site) that was once a sacred area used only by the emperors of China for important ceremonies to honor Heaven, the supreme power. The main structure is the grand Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest, an impressive architectural feat. Today this park is a favorite gathering spot for local residents, a community center where people of all ages come to relax, exercise and express through song and dance. Joining in on activities is a fun way to interact with everyday Beijingers and is welcomed with warm smiles and open arms.

Proceed to visit the Lama Temple. It is the largest Buddhist temple of the Yellow-sect in Beijing and has been completely preserved. Built in 1694 as the residence of Count Yin Zhen, the fourth son of the Emperor Kangxi, it was called "the Palace of Count Yong." After Yin Zhen became the Emperor, he continued to use it as an imperial palace for short stays away from the capital. In 1744, it was converted into a lamasery. Yonghegong is the most renowned Tibetan Buddhist temple in China outside Tibet and holds treasures of both the Han and Tibetan cultures.

After Beijing Noodle Lunch at a local restaurant, departure transfer to airport for flight to Xian, once arrival, meet your local English-speaking guide at airport and transfer to your hotel. Evening is free with dinner on own.

Marvel at the important Terracotta Warriors and Horses underground army pits of the 1st Qin Emperor (3rd century BCE, UNESCO site) with your own eyes and understand the magnitude of this portion of the entire mausoleum project. There are thousands of pottery soldiers and each one looks different. Their solemn assignment was to protect the Emperor Qin Shihuangdi in the afterlife. A circle-vision film reenacts the related events of 2300 years ago. Visit the Xian Ceramic and Art Workshop to see how to make Terra Cotta replica.

Chinese lunch at local restaurant including the Noodle-making demonstration.

Head to visit the Ancient City Wall, it is the most complete one that has survived in China, as well being one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world. Continue to visit Big Wild Goose Pagoda, a Buddhist pagoda located in southern Xi'an. It was built in 652 during the Tang Dynasty and originally had five stories, although the structure was rebuilt in 704 during the reign of Empress Wu Zetian and its exterior brick facade was renovated during the Ming Dynasty. Evening is free with dinner on own.

Transfer to airport for flight flying to Guilin.

Arrive Guilin, meet your guide and transfer to your hotel. Visit the Reed Flute Caves, it is a famous scenic spot, mainly offering a magic fairyland of stalactites, stalagmites, stone columns, curtains and flowers in fantastic shapes and colors while appreciating landscape and rural scenery. Then head to the beautiful Elephant Trunk Hill, who got its name because it's said to resemble a giant elephant drinking water from the Li River. Towering more than 180 feet (55 meters) above the water, it's one of the top attractions in Guilin.

Lunch and dinner on own.

Take a full day cruise on Li River with lunch served on board and enjoy a panorama of bamboo grooves, sleepy villages and karst peaks of limestone formations fancifully christened by painters and poets over the centuries.

Afternoon, explore on the West Street, which is near your hotel. West Street is the most exciting one that locals call the 'Global Village'. There are not only many foreign tourists, but also quite a number of foreign residents managing cafés and restaurants. The exotic flavor, combined with the traditional culture, make the West Street world famous. Walk around the local village and farms. Late afternoon, transfer back to Guilin. Evening is free with dinner on own.

Departure transfer to airport for flight to Shanghai, once arrival, meet your local English-speaking guide at airport and transfer to your hotel.

Lunch and dinner on own.

Start the morning by walk around the People's Park to see locals doing morning exercises and visit the Shanghai Urban Planning Exhibition Center, is a six-story building, with two basement levels, which displays.

Shanghai's urban planning and development. The focus of the exhibit is a large scale model of the entirety of urban Shanghai, showing existing buildings and approved future buildings. Other exhibits relate to Shanghai's history and planned development. Continue to visit the 400 year's old Yu Garden. Yu in Chinese means pleasing and satisfying, and this garden was specially built for Pan's parents as a place for them to enjoy a tranquil and happy time in their old age. Outside the garden, is the famous Chen Huang Miao - an area of shops, restaurants and recreation facilities.

After lunch at local restaurant, stroll along the Bund and to visit the Shanghai Museum, boasts a staggering collection of over 120,000 unique ancient Chinese artifacts. Evening is free with dinner on own.

Say goodbye to China as you will be transferred to the airport to board your returning flight home. Have a safe flight home.